What a wacky wacky world. For a start, they moved the Planetarium. I had booked to see a Fulldome Showcase – short films projected on the planetarium dome – but didn’t check the venue location. Didn’t it used to be at the State Library? Probably not. Now it’s in Spotswood. Blimey, too far to walk. Too, too far. So I booked another one based on last minute availability and venue alone and so got to see Contemporary Color, a US documentary about color guard. About what? I didn’t know what it was either. Continue reading
Tag Archives: 2 stars
A Flickering Truth (2015)
Standard
I bailed on this one. I gave it a good 45 minutes. It’s a documentary about the Afghan Film Archive that was funded in the 60s by the US and almost completely destroyed by the Taliban. The film focuses on three people who have played their part in saving as many films as they can. Continue reading
The Event (2015)
Standard
Like Ma, this film was a little challenging to enjoy as it made no concessions for the knowledge-base, or lack of it in my case, of its viewers. Made entirely of found footage with no narration or explanation, we watch the events unfolding in Leningrad in 1991 as the Soviet Union collapses. Continue reading
The Martian (2015)
StandardOr MacGyver in Space, as Ron dubbed it as the lights went up. Benn asked me to review this one so the whole family trekked to the nearest town with a cinema for the experience. I will tell you from the outset that this review will have spoilers. Not that I will reveal anything that’s not patently obvious as soon as the movie starts, no, actually, as soon as you see the movie poster. This is a Hollywood film through and through and that means it’s predictable, patriotic and full of heroic blokes. Continue reading
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
StandardMeh.
Can any film review be unbiased? I watched this film while I was sick. People love this film. Ron, sitting one couch over from me and watching exactly the same film, was impressed. I was unmoved. Continue reading
The Assassin (2015)
StandardHere’s a bit of inside information. If a movie is described as “a mesmerising slow burn of a martial arts movie”, it means nothing happens for a very……..long………time. Hou Hsiao-hsien has returned to directing after eight years. I remember liking a film of his but I’ve looked on IMDb and I can’t recognise any of his past films. I’m thinking that maybe I just like the sound of his name. Hou Hsiao-hsien. Hou Hsiao-hsien. Continue reading
The Witch (2015)
StandardI didn’t really like this film but I was with some people who did so it has made me ruminate on horror films and why this one didn’t work for me. I don’t mind a horror film every now and then. I prefer them to be suspenseful, to imply rather than to show, to build tension and have me hiding my head behind a pillow when it gets really scary. There still needs to be a believable story and good characters that you care about. And when the violence comes, ideally it shouldn’t make you laugh. Continue reading
